Excavating point



Dec. 1, 1931. w. H. BRUNE 1,834,514

EXCAVATING POINT Filed Nov. 9, 1928 Patented Dec. l, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. BRUNE, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB. lT0 AMERICAN MANGANESE STEEL OOHPA'N'Y, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE EXCAVATING POINT Application led November 9, 1928. Serial No. 318,147.

edge of a bucket lip or other excavatingmember, and is provided at its other extremity with a reduced portion for connection withA a digging point, which latter element may be replaced when broken or worn away. The reduced portion of the base member is of such a configuration and the point is of such a corresponding configuration that when the two parts are placed in assembled relationship and joined together by means of a sultable fastener, there is aiorded an extremely strong and durable connection between them which permits the point to be easily replaceable when desired, but is normally of a rigid and more or less .permanent nat-ure. Many various and devious modes of connecting the point and the base have been suggested and j patented heretofore, the predominant object of all of the prior art devices being to provide a connection, which, although as slmple as possible, does not sacrifice the strength and durability of the assembled tooth.

Similarly, it is an important object of the present invention tov provide an improved excavating tooth of the aforedescribed character that is extremely simple in design and construction, yet is believed to be of increased strength and durability.-

It has been generally customary in the devices of the prior art to form Vthe outer extremity of the base int/ora* wedge-shaped portion and to'bifurcate the point in order that it may straddle the wedge-shaped por tion of the base. With the member so formed and assembled the point rides squarely upon the nose of the wedge-shaped portion of the base, and in performing excavations strains and stresses that are impar-ted to the point of the tooth are communicated directly to the wedge-shaped extremity of the base. This action is disadvantageous for a number of reasons since it tends to wear down the nose of the wedge, and also since it causes the point to be jammed and crammed down onto the wedge with such force that it is extremely diilicult at times to remove the point in order to effect a replacement. Withthis in view an important feature of the present invention consists 'in the provision of members carried by the base and the point for e11-l gaging one another and transmitting strains and stresses from the body of the wedgeshaped point to the shank of the base without permittlng such strains to'be imparted by the point to the wedge-shaped nose of the base. As illustrated, these members comprise a plurality of lugs that are carried on the outside surfaces of the base and a cooperating plurality of abutments that are formed on the point and engage the lugs to limit the rearward movement of the point relatively to the base.

Heretofore in bifurcating the point of the ,75 tooth, it has been customary to perform the opera-tion in such a manner that the completed tooth ycomprises a solid. point, and a plurality of Shanks or projections extending in divergent directions rearwardly from the point. In order to prevent undue spreading of the rearwardly extending projections, it is customary to provide a central web extending between*A the projections in the direction of their lengths and to form a slot inthe Wedge-shaped extremity of the base for the reception of the web. Although such a web imparts considerable strength to the point and does tend to prevent vspreading action, such webs are subject to breakage for the reason that in many instances they are not suiiiciently strong to withstand the strains and stresses that are imparted to them during use, and furthermore, the provision of the slot in the extremity of the base member tends to weaken that member, which, although in most cases not a serious danger', is a disadvantage. With the foregoing in mind, a feature of the present invention aims to eliminate the necessity of providing a slot in the base mem- 100 '30 the members openings that are broughtl into ber and further aims to increase the strength of the point by eliminating the central web and providing a point with a plurality of side walls which extend between the rearwardly extending projections and form a pocket for the reception of the reduced extremity of the base portion. Such a provision, in addition to preventing the points from spreading, tends to increase materially the strength of the points, holds them true to shape, and by engaging the side walls of the base extremity assists in resisting effectively lateral strains that are applied to the tooth during use. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the rear extremities of the side Walls of the points are shaped to form abutments which engage the lugs carried by the base member for limiting rearward movement of the point relatively to the base. The importance of providing the side Walls cannot be too strongly emphasized inasmuch as such a provision causes a pocket or a well to be formed in the point for the reception of the base member whereby there is obtained more wear metal per inch of bearing surface than has beenfgainable-by the use of the devices of the prior art.

It is nerally customary to connect the base anni?e point of the tooth by forming in alinement when the members are assembled and to insert a suitable fastenerr through the alined openings. It is an important feature of the present invention to provide an improved means for connecting the point to the base and as illustrated herein, the said means comprises a plurality of wedges that are adapted to be inserted into the alined openings in such a manner that the tapering portions of the wedges extend in opposite directions. With the wed s so inserted there is a tendency for the we ge having its enlarged end uppermost to work its wa-y out of the opening and in order to prevent this the invention contemplates the Yemployment of means for anchoring both of the wedges firmly in lace to prevent escapement thereof from the alined openings.

Still an additional feature of the invention consists in constructing the point in such a manner that it is not only replaceable, but is also' reversible, which is to say, that the point may be removed from Aa. base member and rotated about its lengthwise axis through 180, and re ositioned on the extremity of the base in wliich condition it is equally well adapted for the operations.

Still other bjects and features of the invention will become ap arent from a lreading of the following speci cation in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which- Fi re 1 is a view in perspective of the reduce extremity of a base portion of an excavating tooth;

performance of excavating Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the point of an excavating tooth;

Figure 3 is an assembled view in side elevation showing the point and base members of Figures 1 and 2 held together by means of a fastening;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assemblage illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view in section taken along the line 5, 5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation in section taken along the lines 6, 6 of Figure 4.

As shown in the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates in its entirety the base portion of an excavating tooth which is rovided with a slot 12 for connecting the ase to the outer edge or lip of an excavating bucket or other suitable excavating tool and the reference numeral 14 indicates similarly a digging point that is adapted to be connected to the base member in a manner hereinafter to be described.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the base member comprises, generally speaking, a shank 16 which is reduced at its outer extremity to form a wedge-shaped nose portion 18. The opposite faces of the wedge 18 are slotted as indicated at 20, 22 to provide a plurality of divergent grooves which for the sake of convenience are herein designated by the same reference characters that are employed to indicate the slots which form the grooves. The diverging grooves and 22 extend straight back from the nose of the wedge 18 and are then projected sharply upward to form a plurality of shoulders 24, 26, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The width of the grooves 20 and 22 is such as to leave a plurality of marginal side Walls 28, extending vertically along the opposite side walls of the-base member 10 these side walls being arranged to extend rearwardly and being of uniform thickness throughout the forward portions and being thickened at points 32, 34 adjacent to the shoulders 24, 26 to form bulges, the purpose of which will also be hereinafter more fully explained.

As shown in Figure 2, the point of the tooth comprises generally a body portion 4() which is of wedge-shaped formation and is provided with a plurality of rearwardly extending projections 42, 44. These projections arearranged to diverge from one another in a direction away from the tapered portion of the point and the projections are joined together by means of side Walls 46, 48 which are also formed integrally with the body portion of the point. Thus, the rearwardly extendingprojections 42 and 44 together with the side Wall 46 and 48 form a recess, well, or cavity 50. This cavity is, it will be appreciated, of a hollow box-like formation having an open rear side and is adapted to receive the tapered extremity 'of the base portion 10 of the tooth.

The width of the wedge portion 18 of the base is slightly less than the distance between the side walls'46 and 48, and the tapering formation of the wedge 18 corresponds to the divergence between the projections 42 and 44, whereby the reduced extremity of the base can be inserted snugly into the socket or recess formed in the point, it being important in this connection that very little play be allowed between the two parts. When the parts are joined together in this fashion, the projections 42 and 44 lie within the grooves 20 and 22 and as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the rear faces and edges of the projections engage the shoulders 24,26 formed in the bottom of the grooves and the widened portions 32, 34 of the mar 'nalwalls of the base member whereby a -rm non-yielding engagement between the point and the base is effected. As illustrated in Figure 1, the base is provided upon opposite sides with outwardly extending lugs 52, 54 and as shown in Figure 2, the side walls 46, 48 of the point taper rearwardly to form abutments 56, 58. Thus, when the point is slipped over the extremity of the base the abutments 56, 58 move into engagement with the lugs 52, 54 and limit the rearward movement of the point relatively to the base. By means of such a provision, it

will be appreciated that during operation of the excavator strains and stresses that are imparted to the point will be transmitted to the lugs and thence to the shank ofthe base without being imparted directly to the nose of the wedge 18. This increases the length of the device and prevents the two parts from being jammed and crammed upon one another.

The marginal walls 28 and 30 of the base are provided with vertically extending shoulders 60, 62 and the point is provided with a plurality of members 64, 66 that are adapted to bear against the shoulders 60, 62 and provide a more rigid and ,durable structure.

The members 64 and 66, it will be noted, are in near proximity to the projections 42 and 44 and cooperate in forming the recess or socket 50.

From so much of the description as has already been given, it will be appreciated that the novel structure is extraordinarily strong and durable and that the fit between the two parts is a rigid and highly cooperating one. The side walls 46, 48, for example, overlie the side walls of the wedge 18, and oppose lateral pressures which applied to the point tend to move that member sidewise relatively to the base 10. These members also tend 70, 72 and the location of these o nings is such with respect to an opening 4 formed centrally of -the grooves in the base that when the point and base are in assembled relationship with one another all three of the openings 70, 72, and 74 are in alinement with one another. From an inspection of Figure 6, it will be noted that the lower portion of the opening'72 in the projection 44 is restricted vfor a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

When the point and base are assembled properly they are secured together by means of a fastener that is inserted into the opening. Heretofore such fasteners have generally taken the form of a bolt and nut, but the applicant has found that such members are generally unsatisfactory and accordingly he has provided a fastener that is an improvement over the prior fasteners, which, by the way, include single wedge members that are dropped into and fastened within the opening. As shown, there are provided a plurality of wedges and 82, the latter of which is provided with'a yslot 84 and the former with a screw-threaded opening 86 (Figure 6). The slotted wedge is dropped into the opening with its narrow slotted portion uppermost and is prevented from falling through the opening by means of the restriction formed in the portion of the opening disposed within the projection 44, and thereafter the second wed e is dropped in with its thickened portion, w ich includes a screw-threaded opening, located up ermost in the alined opening; these mem rs being of semi-circular cross-sectional formation as shown in Figures 4 and 5, are always certain to be disposed properly within the groove with the openings 84 and 86 in alinement with one another. As illustrated, an additional opening 88 is formed in the upper rearwardly extending projection 42 and communicates with the alined opening for the purpose of receiving a screwthreaded bolt 90. The bolt passes through th,e opening 88, the slot 84and has screwthreaded engagement with the lopening' 86 formed in the wedge 80. When the parts are assembled and the wedges are driven home within the opening, the bolt 90.is tightened to draw the upper thickened portion of the wedge 8,0 into rm and binding engagement with` the narrow upper portion of the wedge 82. The wedge 80 cannot .escape inasmuch as it is in rigid connection with the bolt 90 which in turnis rigidly held by the projection 42 nor can the wedge 82 escape since the opening occupied by its upper portion 'is not of sufficient area to accomodate the lower thickened portion. Thus, there is providedl a simple connection which prevents separation of the members and is little subject to become loose of its own accord.

'llil to excavating devices o the dredge,

I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, said base having vertical side walls and being of substantially uniform width throughout its length, a plurality of lugs formed upon the outer side Walls of the base and a oint of greater width than the base adapte for attachment to the reduced extremity of the base, said point being provided with a plurality of side walls adapted to engage the lugs to limit the rearward movement of the point relatively to the base and to relieve the reduced extremity of the base from some of the Working strains that are imparted to the point during use thereof.

2. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, a plurality of marginal side walls formed upon the base, a plurality of lugs carried b the outer surfaces of the marginal wa ls, and a digging point adapted yto be-attached to the reduced extremity of the base, said digging point comprislng a plurality of rearwardly extending projections adapted to be seated between the marginal side walls of the-base, and a plurality of side walls extending between the rearwardly extending projections and adapted to engage the lugs to limit the rearward lxjnovemeut of the point relatively to the ase. j

3. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a wedge-shaped extremity provided with grooves on the opposite faces of the wedge which grooves form a plurality of diverging channels located between vertically lextending marginal walls, a plurality of lugs located upon the outer extremity of the marginal walls, and a digging point adapted to be secured to the wedge-shaped extremity of the base, said point comprising ay plurality of rearwardly extending projections diverging in a manner similar to the diverging grooves of the base, said projections beinfY adapted to be seated within said grooves between said marginal walls, anda plurality of abutments carried by the point and adapted to engage the lugs to limit the rearward movement of the point relatively to the base.

4. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a wedge-shaped outer extremity, a plurality of vertically ex- Having thus described my invention what'v tending marginal walls formed upon the opposite sides of the wedge-shaped extremit of the base member, a plurahty of shoul ers formed in the upper surface of the marginal walls, and a plurality of elongated lugs carried by the outer surface of the marginal walls, and a digging point adapted to be Secured to said base member, said point comprising a bod portion having a wedgeshape recess ormed therein for the reception of the wedge-shaped extremity of the base member, a plurality of spaced rearwardly extending projections adapted to be seated between the marginal walls of the base member, a plurality of members located in near proximity to the projections and adapted to be seated against the shoulders formed in the upper surface of the marginal walls and a plurality of abutments formed integrally with the' point and adapted to engage the elongated lugs carried by the marginal walls of the base member.

5. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a Wedge-shaped extremity spaced' marginal walls formed along the outer sides of the wedge-shaped extremity whereby there is provided a plurality of grooves diverging in a direction away from the nose of the wedge, shoulders formed in the base of each of the grooves and a plurality of lugs formed upon the outside of the marginal walls of the wedge-shaped extremity of the base and a point adapted to be secured to the base, said point comprising a plurality of rearwardly extending diverging projections adapted to fit within the diverging grooves of the base member with the rear faces of the projections in seated engagement with the shoulders formed in the base of the grooves, and a plurality of abutments formed integrally with the point and adapted to engage the lugs to limit the rearward movement of the point relatively to the base.

6. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, a digging point adapted to be connected to the base, means for effecting the connection, said means comprising a plurality of cooperating wedges arranged to extend side by side with their t-apering portions leading in opposite directions and means extending through one of said wedges for preventing displacement of another of said wedges.

7. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, a digging point adapted to be connected to the base, said base and said digging point being provided with openings which register-with one another when the parts are in assembled relation, and means for connecting the base and the digging point to one another, said means comprising a pair of wedge-shaped members adapted to extend into the alined openings, one of said wedgeshaped members being arranged to taper toward the bottom of the openings and the other of said wedge-shaped members being arranged to taper toward the top of said openings, the bottom opening in said point having a reduced portion forming a shoulder to limit the downward movement of the Wedges.

8. An excavating tooth comprising, in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, a digging point adapted to be connected to the base, said base and said digging point being provided with openings which register with one another when the parts are in assembled relation and means for connecting the base and the (ligging point to one another, said means comprising a pair of wedge-shaped members adapted to extend into the alined openings, one of said wedge-shaped members being arranged to taper toward the bottom of the openings, and the other of said wedgeshaped members being arranged to taper toward the top of said openings, and means for pressing one of the members into firm engagement with the other Wedge-shaped member to prevent relative slippage therebetween.

9. An excavating tooth comprising in combination, a base having a reduced extremity, a digging point adapted to be connected to `said base, said base and said digging point being provided with openings which register with one another when the parts are in assembled position, means connecting said base and said point comprising a pair of wedge shaped members adapted to extend into said openings and replaceable means adapted to extend through a portion of said point and into one of said wedges to prevent displacement thereof.

10. An excavating tooth as described in claim 9 in which one of said wedges is provided With a slot through which the replaceable securing means extends into the other of said wedges.

11. An excavating tooth comprising in combination a base having a vertically tapered wedge-shaped extremity extending from an attaching shank portion, said base having a substantially uniform width throughout its length by the provision of vertical side walls, a pair of vertical lugs extending from the side walls of the wedge-shaped extremity, a point shaped to provide a hollow box-like structure having an open side for the reception of the wedge-shaped extremity of said base, said point having a width greater than the width of said base and including side walls adapted to be brought into abutting relation with said lugs and means for securing said base and point in assembled relation.

12. An excavating tooth comprising a base including a wedge-shaped nose and an attaching shank portion, a pair of lugs outwardly extending from the side walls of said wedgeshaped nose, the width of said base at sections on either side of said lugs being uniform, a

detachable point adapted to be assembled on said base, having an outside width substantially equal to a section of the base taken through the lugs, said point having a wedgeshaped recess adapted to receive the nose of said base and having side walls designed to come into abutting relation with the lugs of said base.

13. An excavating tooth comprising a wedge-shaped base, a soeketed point adapted to fit on and be secured to said base, said base having marginal side Walls projecting vertically from the top and bottom faces, said point having projections within the socketed portion adapted to be received between the said marginal side Walls.

14. An excavating tooth comprising a wedge-shaped base, a socketed point adapted to fit on and be secured to said base, said base having longitudinal depressions in its inelined faces and said point having rearwardly extending projections starting within the socketed portion and extending beyond the socketed portion adapted to fit into the depressions of said base, said point being of greater width than said base whereby the side walls of said point overlap the side walls of said base.

4Signed at Chicago Heights, Illinois, this 3 day of November, 1928.

WILLIAM H. BRUNE. 

